New! Custom Marine Corps T-Shirts

As a retired Marine of 22 years, Marine Corps pride and unit pride is very important to me, as it is with every other Marine that served, regardless of the tour of duty. It could be one enlistment or through retirement.

There have always been unit logo designs available but there are very little out there that are unique and different. I wanted something that would set my design apart from the others. I toyed with the idea of developing something that was different, unique, and special that exudes unit pride while keeping the logos’ integrity.

I’ve known Mike Skinner and his abilities as a kickass artist for some time. Mike is also a retired Marine, so who better to help produce designs and logos? His designs and logos are something that each unit can take pride in and get excited about.

We put our heads together, combined resources, and through DIZCO Ltd Co. started “Skinz” custom t-shirts division by giving to the Wounded Warrior Project, Weaths Accross America and other comunity services. This will be a way of giving back to the units and community that we continue to work closely with, even after retirement.

There are over ten unit designs in the pipeline now slated for production. If you have a specific unit you want to have designed (any armed forces unit!), e-mail us at diz2241@yahoo.com with your idea. Please include your name, branch of service, unit, and contact information.

Check Out Our T-shirt Gallery

“Remember the days when you were a “Crusader?” VMFA 122 is now called the Werewolves, but no one could forget the “Crusaders” days! These are one of a kind custom designed shirts that can only be purchased right here at tuckstencils.com. The VMFA-122 shirt is a 50/50 blend of polyester and cotton and come in 2 colors; black, & red. Black long sleeve shirts are also available.

Prior to another squadron deployment in support of OIF later in 2008, the squadron’s commander reverted the unit to their older WWII nickname, the Werewolves.[5] The squadron began its first combat deployment in more than 30 years when it left MCAS Beaufort on August 29, 2008 for Al Asad Airbase.[6][7] The Werewolves returned from their seven month deployment on March 21, 2009.[8] In April, 2012, the new commander of VMFA-122, LtCol Wiegel, decided the squadron would henceforth revert to the “Crusaders” nickname. However, this move has caused some concern among those who believe that this nickname may be in violation of the No Establishment clauses in the Constitution which have been held by the SCOTUS to imply a separation of church and state. After the nonprofit Military Religious Freedom Foundation threatened suit over the Crusaders name and logo, the Marine Deputy Commandant for aviation directed VMFA-122 to revert the unit identification back to “Werewolves.”[9]

History of the Design

Kari Huus of msnbc.com reported on the squadron,

A Marine fighter squadron challenged on its use of the “Crusaders” name and cross-and-shield symbolism as its insignia has been ordered to reverse the decision, and to return to identifying itself as “Werewolves,” the Marine Corps said on Thursday.

The news came a month after the nonprofit Military Religious Freedom Foundation blasted the use of the Crusaders name and logo — citing constitutional and practical objections — on behalf of dozens of soldiers, including Marines in the affected squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122.

The Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which advocates complete separation of church and state, welcomed the policy change.

“This is a great victory. Lady liberty is smiling today,” said Mikey Weinstein, president and founder of foundation. “We commend the Marine Corps,” he said, but added: “The Marines Corps does not get a gold star for doing the right thing because they shouldn’t have done the wrong thing in the first place.”

The squadron, based in Beaufort, S.C., used the Crusaders symbol from 1958 to 2008, when Lt. Col. William Lieblein pointed out that imagery invoking the Christian conquest and colonization of Muslim nations during the Middle Ages was counterproductive to the U.S. presence across the Arab and Islamic world.

“The notion of being a crusader in that part of the world doesn’t float,” he said, ordering the change to “Werewolves,” as reported by the Beaufort Gazette at the time.

As of May 18, legal counsel for Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos continued to defend the use of the Crusaders name and symbolism in a teleconference with a lawyer for the foundation.

The military attorney questioned whether the cross was a religious symbol and argued that the crusades were really military, not religious in nature, according to an account of the meeting verified by Caroline Mitchell, a lawyer from the firm Jones Day, which is representing the foundation.

In a letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Amos on Wednesday, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation threatened legal action to force a change in the squadron name. It also submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for all communication and documentation related to the return of the squadron’s name from Werewolves to Crusaders.

But Plenzler said Thursday that a decision made weeks ago by Deputy Commandant of Aviation Lt. Gen. Terry Robling had overruled the squadron commander who reinstated the Crusaders logo. “I can only tell you that there is not an aircraft with anything but a Werewolf within that squadron,” he said.

“We still demand that those who made the decision … be fully and aggressively prosecuted so this never happens again,” said Weinstein. “And we want a full accounting of how much money it cost taxpayers to change the name from Werewolves to Crusaders and back to Werewolves.” (Huus, 2012)

As a long time Crusader with no religious affiliations what so-ever, I decided to put a knightly presence to the werewolf mascot. This is a tribute to the squadron mascot “Mach Altus”, who is a little armored knight that has traveled the world over with the brave men and women that make up this unit. I have often depicted him on cruise book covers and t-shirts. This merging of the old with the new was a big hit with some of my old squadron mates so I came up with the t-shirt design.

After flying Phantoms for more than 20 years, VMFA-115 began the transition to the F/A-18A Hornet on January 1, 1985, and officially stood up with 14 aircraft on August 16, 1985. The following year, the squadron became officially known as the “Silver Eagles.”

Marine Fighter Squadron 312 (VMF-312) was commissioned on June 1, 1943, at Page Field, Parris Island, South Carolina.[2] Originally it was part of MAG-31, 1st MAW. As their unit crest the squadron members choose a satan-like bulldog wearing a flying helmet and carrying -at that time- six .50 caliber machineguns (the armament of the Corsair) Also at this time, the Checkerboards emblem began to appear on both the cowling and rudder of the aircraft.[3]